Amidst reports of Indian nationals falling victim to illicit cyber schemes in Cambodia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has taken swift action to address the issue.
According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the Indian Embassy in Cambodia has already rescued and repatriated approximately 250 individuals, with ongoing efforts to assist those still in need. Despite the challenges posed by fraudulent activities, the Indian government remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting its citizens abroad.
As investigations reveal the extent of the scam, collaboration between Indian and Cambodian authorities intensifies, aiming to dismantle organized crime networks and ensure the safe return of affected individuals.
This is what MEA Spokesperson said:
“We have seen media reports on Indian nationals stuck in Cambodia.
Our Embassy in Cambodia has been promptly responding to complaints from Indian nationals who were lured with employment opportunities to that country but were forced to undertake illegal cyber work. Collaborating closely with Cambodian authorities, it has rescued and repatriated about 250 Indians, of which 75 in just the last three months.”
According to Jaiswal several advisories have also been issued by the Ministry and the Embassy of India in Cambodia to our nationals about such scams. “We remain committed to helping all those Indian nationals in Cambodia who seek our support. We are also working with Cambodian authorities and with agencies in India to crack down on those responsible for these fraudulent schemes.”
What is the Situation in Cambodia?
More than 5,000 Indians find themselves ensnared in Cambodia, allegedly held against their will and coerced into perpetrating cyber frauds targeting individuals in their homeland.
The government’s estimates suggest that these fraudsters have managed to deceive people in India out of a staggering sum of at least Rs 500 crore over the span of the last six months. In response to this dire situation, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) convened a meeting earlier this month with officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity), the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), and other security experts.
The objective was to devise a comprehensive strategy to effect the rescue of the stranded Indians in Cambodia. According to reports attributed to sources, “The primary agenda of the meeting was to address the organized racket and repatriate those individuals who find themselves trapped there. Data indicates that cyber fraud originating from Cambodia has resulted in losses amounting to Rs 500 crore in India over the past six months.”
Investigations conducted by Central agencies have unveiled a modus operandi wherein agents lure individuals, predominantly from the southern regions of India, promising them employment opportunities in Cambodia, only to coerce them into perpetrating cyber frauds.
Those stuck in Cambodia are compelled to engage in fraudulent activities targeting individuals in India, occasionally resorting to extortion tactics by posing as law enforcement officials and falsely claiming the discovery of suspicious items within parcels. To date, three individuals from Bengaluru who were ensnared in Cambodia have been successfully repatriated to India. The beginning of this issue came to light following the dismantling of a cyber-crime syndicate by the Rourkela Police in Odisha on December 30 last year.
Eight individuals, purportedly involved in orchestrating the trafficking of individuals to Cambodia, were apprehended as a result. Providing insights into the operation conducted by the Rourkela Police, an officer revealed that the case stemmed from a complaint lodged by a senior Central government official who had fallen victim to a scam, losing approximately Rs 70 lakh in the process.
Eight individuals hailing from various parts of the country have been arrested, and the authorities possess prima facie evidence against several others implicated in the scheme. Look Out Circulars were issued for 16 individuals, leading to the Bureau of Immigration detaining two individuals, Harish Kurapati and Naga Venkata Sowjanya Kurapati, at the Hyderabad airport upon their return from Cambodia.